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==History== ==History==
In 1983, scheduled bus service between Champaign and the Chicago area in Illinois was a monopoly controlled by ].<ref name="farewars" /> Between November and December of 1983, Greyhound Lines suffered a nationwide, sometimes violent, ].<ref name=CSMstrikeStart>{{cite news|last=Townsend|first=Ed|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1983/1104/110440.html|accessdate=9 April 2014|title=Strike against Greyhound forces customers to leave driving to somebody else|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor|date=4 November 1983}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ray Phillips and the 1983 Strike Ray Phillips and the 1983 Strike|url=http://atu1700.org/node/2639|accessdate=9 April 2014|date=31 December 2011}}</ref><ref name=CSMStrikeEnd>{{cite news|last=Townsend|first=Ed|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1983/1205/120519.html|title=Tentative settlement in Greyhound strike|accessdate=9 April 2014|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor|date=5 December 1983}}</ref> For the ] break during the Greyhound strike,<ref name=Illini1984CutRate/> ], then a 19-year-old student at ] (UIUC), and later Suburban Express' founder, chartered 6 buses, sold tickets through a local travel agent, spent $600 on advertising, and undercut Greyhound's fares by $4 to $8. The Thanksgiving 1983 service carried nearly 300 students.<ref name="farewars" /> ] had a monopoly on scheduled bus services between the Champaign and Chicago areas of Illinois,<ref name="farewars" /> when in 1983 its bus drivers went on strike.<ref name=CSMstrikeStart>{{cite news|last=Townsend|first=Ed|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1983/1104/110440.html|accessdate=9 April 2014|title=Strike against Greyhound forces customers to leave driving to somebody else|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor|date=4 November 1983}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ray Phillips and the 1983 Strike Ray Phillips and the 1983 Strike|url=http://atu1700.org/node/2639|accessdate=9 April 2014|date=31 December 2011}}</ref><ref name=CSMStrikeEnd>{{cite news|last=Townsend|first=Ed|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1983/1205/120519.html|title=Tentative settlement in Greyhound strike|accessdate=9 April 2014|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor|date=5 December 1983}}</ref> Suburban Express began as Western Trails Transportation in November 1983 as an alternative during the local colleges' ] break.<ref name=Illini1984CutRate/> Company founder ], then a 19-year-old student at ] (UIUC), chartered 6 buses, sold tickets through a local travel agent, spent $600 on advertising, and undercut Greyhound's fares by $4 to $8. The Thanksgiving 1983 service carried nearly 300 students.<ref name="farewars" /> In January 1984 the company announced it would continue to offer weekly transportation services though the strike at Greyhound had ended.<ref name=Illini1984CutRate>{{cite news|last=Rubey|first=Peter|title=New cut-rate bus company to begin service next week|url=http://www.toeppen.com/oldarticles/1984_0128_new_cut-rate_bus_service.pdf|accessdate=9 April 2014|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=28 January 1984|language=English|quote=Western Trails Transportation Co., a new bus service which operated during the Greyhound bus driver's strike, will begin regular cut-rate weekly service next Friday}}</ref>


⚫ UIUC's travel center received a commission from Greyhound, and initially refused to sell competing tickets, out of fear of losing their agreement with Greyhound. The travel center also briefly offered its own competing charter service.<ref name="farewars">{{cite news | work=Daily Herald (Arlington Heights) | title=Fare wars - Bus service run by student butts heads with Greyhound | first=Dan | last=Rozek | url=http://toeppen.com/daily-herald-fare-wars-toeppen.pdf |date=October 20, 1985}}</ref> In 1984, a ] began between Suburban Express and Greyhound that resulted in prices being cut prices by more than fifty percent. Greyhound filed two complaints against Suburban Express with the Illinois Commerce Commission.<ref name="farewars" /> In February 1985, the company, by then called Suburban Express, charged Greyhound with ], claiming their ticket prices were was below its costs and designed to drive competitors out of business. The Justice Department did not investigate.<ref name=IlliniPredPrice1985>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Barbara|title=Greyhound pricing illegal, bus service official claims|url=http://www.toeppen.com/oldarticles/1985_0216_greyhound_predatory_pricing.pdf|accessdate=9 April 2014|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=16 February 1985}}</ref><ref name="farewars" />
In January 1984, and then named ''Western Trails Transportation'', the company announced regular weekly and holiday service.<ref name=Illini1984CutRate>{{cite news|last=Rubey|first=Peter|title=New cut-rate bus company to begin service next week|url=http://www.toeppen.com/oldarticles/1984_0128_new_cut-rate_bus_service.pdf|accessdate=9 April 2014|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=28 January 1984|language=English|quote=Western Trails Transportation Co., a new bus service which operated during the Greyhound bus driver's strike, will begin regular cut-rate weekly service next Friday}}</ref> UIUC's travel center received a commission from Greyhound, and initially refused to sell competing tickets, despite their lower price. The travel center also briefly offered its own competing charter service.<ref name="farewars">{{cite news | work=Daily Herald (Arlington Heights) | title=Fare wars - Bus service run by student butts heads with Greyhound | first=Dan | last=Rozek | url=http://toeppen.com/daily-herald-fare-wars-toeppen.pdf |date=October 20, 1985}}</ref>


⚫ Suburban Express began servicing ] in 1985,<ref name="farewars" /> and ] in 1989.{{CN|date=May 2014}} The company's ''Illini Shuttle'',<ref name=Illini2013SubExIilliniTOS>{{cite news|title=Suburban Express Terms of Service|url=http://www.dailyillini.com/news/campus/article_026b7ab0-a89e-11e2-a046-001a4bcf6878.html|accessdate=11 April 2014|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=19 April 2013|quote=You agree to direct all questions and concerns pertaining to credit card charges or credits to Suburban Express / Illini Shuttle IN WRITING at PO Box 4048, Lisle, IL 60532}}</ref> began service connecting UIUC to Chicago's ] and ] airports in October 2004.<ref name=SubExSiteIlliniSchedArchive>{{cite web|title=Illini Shuttle - O'Hare & Midway Schedules|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041016184545/http://www.illinishuttle.com/bbs.html|work=illinishuttle.com (Subject's website)|publisher=Suburban Express|accessdate=11 April 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041016184545/http://www.illinishuttle.com/bbs.html|archivedate=16 October 2004|quote=Schedules...will begin operating October 12, 2004...October 27, 2004. We will begin accepting reservations and selling tickets on September 30, 2004.}}</ref> Service to the ] began during the 2006–2007 academic year.<ref name=SESiteUIowaArchive>{{cite web|work=suburbanexpress.com|publisher=Suburban Express (company website)|accessdate=22 April 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221175629/http://www.suburbanexpress.com/uiowaspring07.pdf|archivedate=21 February 2007|location=Archive.org|format=PDF|quote=$9.95 Introductory Fare Extended through February 16}}</ref>
⚫ In 1984, a ] between the company and Greyhound cut prices between Champaign and Chicago by more than fifty percent. Reacting to new competition, Greyhound filed two complaints with the Illinois Commerce Commission, and lowered its prices from around $36 to $14.75.<ref name="farewars" /> In February 1985, the company, by then called ''Suburban Express'', charged Greyhound with ], claiming the $14.75 price was below Greyhound's costs and designed to drive competitors out of business.<ref name=IlliniPredPrice1985>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Barbara|title=Greyhound pricing illegal, bus service official claims|url=http://www.toeppen.com/oldarticles/1985_0216_greyhound_predatory_pricing.pdf|accessdate=9 April 2014|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=16 February 1985}}</ref> According to Suburban Express' lawyer, after the ] sent a letter to Greyhound, the bus service raised their rate by $3.<ref name="farewars" />

⚫ Suburban Express expanded its service to ] in 1985,<ref name="farewars" /> and to ] in 1989.<ref>''Russell's Guides'' (September 1999). GLI Schedule 397.</ref>{{Better source|reason=a 1999 guide seems "too late" for a 1989 event|date=April 2014}} In 2002, the company introduced self-service ticket kiosks in the Champaign area.<ref name=SESiteKioskLaunch>{{cite web|title=Suburban Express Self-Service Ticketing|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020201203028/http://www.suburbanexpress.com/kiosk.html|work=suburbanexpress.com|publisher=Suburban Express (subject's website)|accessdate=22 April 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020201203028/http://www.suburbanexpress.com/kiosk.html|quote=Suburban Express is pleased to introduce self-service ticketing. Ticket machines are located in the hallway of College Corner Mall at 4th & Green, a few steps from our ticket office. They are available whenever the building is unlocked. Building hours are fairly random, but the front door is generally open at 8 am weekdays. Try it out and save $5 (wow!) on your ticket.}}</ref> The company's ''Illini Shuttle'',<ref name=Illini2013SubExIilliniTOS>{{cite news|title=Suburban Express Terms of Service|url=http://www.dailyillini.com/news/campus/article_026b7ab0-a89e-11e2-a046-001a4bcf6878.html|accessdate=11 April 2014|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=19 April 2013|quote=You agree to direct all questions and concerns pertaining to credit card charges or credits to Suburban Express / Illini Shuttle IN WRITING at PO Box 4048, Lisle, IL 60532}}</ref> began service connecting UIUC to Chicago's ] and ] airports in October 2004.<ref name=SubExSiteIlliniSchedArchive>{{cite web|title=Illini Shuttle - O'Hare & Midway Schedules|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041016184545/http://www.illinishuttle.com/bbs.html|work=illinishuttle.com (Subject's website)|publisher=Suburban Express|accessdate=11 April 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041016184545/http://www.illinishuttle.com/bbs.html|archivedate=16 October 2004|quote=Schedules...will begin operating October 12, 2004...October 27, 2004. We will begin accepting reservations and selling tickets on September 30, 2004.}}</ref> Service to the ] began during the 2006–2007 academic year.<ref name=SESiteUIowaArchive>{{cite web|work=suburbanexpress.com|publisher=Suburban Express (company website)|accessdate=22 April 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221175629/http://www.suburbanexpress.com/uiowaspring07.pdf|archivedate=21 February 2007|location=Archive.org|format=PDF|quote=$9.95 Introductory Fare Extended through February 16}}</ref>


== Services == == Services ==
As of 2013 Suburban Express serves six universities: UIUC, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, ], ] and ]. Each of the six campuses has weekend service to several Chicago locations, and the Illini Shuttle runs daily from Champaign to ] and the suburbs. According to the company, it hires only non-smoking drivers, has free ] on most buses,<ref>, Illini Shuttle.</ref> and in the year prior to April 2013 carried around 100,000 passengers, on up to 75 buses a day.<ref name="DailyIlliniContinues"/> As of 2013 Suburban Express serves six universities: UIUC, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, ], ] and ]. Each of the six campuses has weekend service to several Chicago locations, and the Illini Shuttle runs daily from Champaign to ] and the suburbs. It hires non-smoking drivers and has free ] on most buses.<ref>, Illini Shuttle.</ref> In 2012 it carried around 100,000 passengers or about 75 buses a day.<ref name="DailyIlliniContinues"/>


== Business practices and lawsuits == == Terms of service ==
In early 2013, according to ''Ars Technica'', Suburban Express had a "bad reputation online" due to students who said it had "cutthroat business practices," such as fining, banning and suing customers who allegedly violate its terms of service.<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/04/express-to-internet-hate-bus-company-threatens-redditor-with-lawsuit/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Express to Internet Hate: Bus company threatens redditor with lawsuit | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=April 26, 2013}}</ref> Ars Technica reported in early 2013 that Suburban Express had a negative online reputation due to its business practices, such as fining, banning or filing a small claims dispute when customers allegedly violate its terms of service.<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/04/express-to-internet-hate-bus-company-threatens-redditor-with-lawsuit/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Express to Internet Hate: Bus company threatens redditor with lawsuit | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=April 26, 2013}}</ref> At the time, Suburban Express said these students were breaking the company's Terms of Service,<Ref name="aba">{{cite news|title=Cheap bus ticket included a trip to small-claims court for unwary students|first=Martha|last=Neil|date=May 3, 2013|url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/Cheap_bus_ticket_included_a_costly_trip_to_small-claims_court_for_over_100_/|newspaper=ABA Journal|accessdate=January 4, 2014}}</ref><ref name="SubEx_NG1">{{cite news| url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-04-26/bus-firms-lawsuits-criticized.html | work=The News-Gazette | title=Bus firm's lawsuits criticized | first=Will | last=Brumleve | date=April 26, 2013}}</ref> which said students would be fined $100 for using an "invalid, altered or duplicate ticket" and $500 for "disruptive behavior".<Ref name="aba"/> In April 2013 fines were removed from its Terms of Service in response to customer complaints.<Ref name="aba"/><ref name="chicagoone">{{cite news|title=Bus company’s lawsuits anger students, parents|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-05-01/news/ct-met-suburban-express-20130501_1_bus-ticket-ford-county-wrong-bus|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=May 1, 2013|first=Kim|last=Geiger|accessdate=January 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>, dated April 29, 2013. Retrieved Jan 28, 2014.</ref>
According to Suburban Express' response at the time, these students broke the company's rules against riding without a printed ticket, getting two rides for the price of one, counterfeiting tickets, or using tickets on the wrong day.<Ref name="aba"/><ref name="SubEx_NG1">{{cite news| url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-04-26/bus-firms-lawsuits-criticized.html | work=The News-Gazette | title=Bus firm's lawsuits criticized | first=Will | last=Brumleve | date=April 26, 2013}}</ref>
Some students said the bus driver should have refused them if something was wrong with their ticket, while Suburban Express said checking tickets and IDs would slow onboarding.<Ref name="aba">{{cite news|title=Cheap bus ticket included a trip to small-claims court for unwary students|first=Martha|last=Neil|date=May 3, 2013|url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/Cheap_bus_ticket_included_a_costly_trip_to_small-claims_court_for_over_100_/|newspaper=ABA Journal|accessdate=January 4, 2014}}</ref><Ref>China News (October 14, 2013): ()</ref><ref name="chicagoone"/>
The company's terms of service said students would be fined $100 for using an "invalid, altered or duplicate ticket" and $500 for "disruptive behavior"<Ref name="aba"/> until April 2013, when fines were eliminated from the terms of service in response to complaints. <Ref name="aba"/><ref name="chicagoone">{{cite news|title=Bus company’s lawsuits anger students, parents|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-05-01/news/ct-met-suburban-express-20130501_1_bus-ticket-ford-county-wrong-bus|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=May 1, 2013|first=Kim|last=Geiger|accessdate=January 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>, dated April 29, 2013. Retrieved Jan 28, 2014.</ref>


Suburban Express initiated 209 lawsuits from April 1994 to April 2013. Most were against students it alleged violated its terms of service, while four were against competitors.<ref name="DailyIlliniContinues">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyillini.com/news/local/article_43a45b74-ae1a-11e2-9a0d-0019bb30f31a.html| work=Daily Illini | title=Suburban Express lawsuits reach 125 this year; conversation continues on Reddit | first=Corinne | last=Ruff | date=April 28, 2013}}</ref> A group of 126 lawsuits were filed in early 2013, 116 of which were initially withdrawn and dismissed with prejudice. Later, some dismissals were overturned and their cases were refiled.<ref name="oli">{{cite news|first=Will|last=Brumleve|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-30/judge-allows-bus-company-refile-some-claims-against-passengers.html |title=Judge allows bus company to refile some claims against passengers |work=The News-Gazette |date=July 31, 2013 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/H43YS |archivedate=August 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>, ''The News-Gazette''. Accessed November 9, 2013.</ref> Suburban Express initiated 209 lawsuits from April 1994 to April 2013. Most were against students it alleged violated its terms of service, while four were against competitors.<ref name="DailyIlliniContinues">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyillini.com/news/local/article_43a45b74-ae1a-11e2-9a0d-0019bb30f31a.html| work=Daily Illini | title=Suburban Express lawsuits reach 125 this year; conversation continues on Reddit | first=Corinne | last=Ruff | date=April 28, 2013}}</ref> 126 lawsuits were filed in early 2013, 116 of which were initially withdrawn and dismissed with prejudice. Later, some dismissals were overturned and their cases were refiled.<ref name="oli">{{cite news|first=Will|last=Brumleve|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-30/judge-allows-bus-company-refile-some-claims-against-passengers.html |title=Judge allows bus company to refile some claims against passengers |work=The News-Gazette |date=July 31, 2013 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/H43YS |archivedate=August 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>, ''The News-Gazette''. Accessed November 9, 2013.</ref>
Many of the lawsuits were filed in ], 30 miles from UIUC, which made students ineligible for the university's free legal aid for cases filed in ].<ref name="SubEx_NG1"/> Many of the lawsuits were filed in ], 30 miles from UIUC, which made students ineligible for the university's free legal aid for cases filed in ].<ref name="SubEx_NG1"/>


In April 2013, the company banned and sought a $570 penalty from a student whose allegations about a bus driver's racist comment were widely seen on Facebook and in a college newspaper.<ref name="chicagoone"/><ref name="dailyillini1">{{cite news|last=Ruff |first=Corinne|url=http://www.dailyillini.com/news/local/article_43a45b74-ae1a-11e2-9a0d-0019bb30f31a.html |title=Suburban Express lawsuits reach 125 this year; conversation continues on Reddit |location=Champaign-Urbana |newspaper=The Daily Illini |date=April 28, 2013 |accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name="oli"/> In April 2013, the company banned and sought a $570 penalty from a student whose allegations about a bus driver's racist comment were widely seen on Facebook and in a college newspaper.<ref name="chicagoone"/><ref name="dailyillini1">{{cite news|last=Ruff |first=Corinne|url=http://www.dailyillini.com/news/local/article_43a45b74-ae1a-11e2-9a0d-0019bb30f31a.html |title=Suburban Express lawsuits reach 125 this year; conversation continues on Reddit |location=Champaign-Urbana |newspaper=The Daily Illini |date=April 28, 2013 |accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name="oli"/> This led to a discussion among students on the UIUC ]. A dispute arose between Suburban Express and a Reddit moderator. The moderator accused the company of ]. Suburban Express threatened him with a lawsuit and exposed his personal information on their website. Reddit users allegedly hacked the company website. Suburban Express filed a ] request with the university to identify the subreddit's users, in what Ars Technica reports was an attempt to bully online critics, resulting in a ].<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013"/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/troll-road-bus-company-posts-dirt-on-complaining-passenger/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Troll road: Bus company posts "dirt" on complaining passenger | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=February 13, 2013}}
The case led to discussion among students on the UIUC ], a threat by the company to sue the subreddit's moderator if they did not remove negative comments, and an attack page about the student posted on the company's website.<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013"/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/troll-road-bus-company-posts-dirt-on-complaining-passenger/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Troll road: Bus company posts "dirt" on complaining passenger | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=February 13, 2013}} *{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/non-stop-to-schadenfreude-suburban-express-u-turn-on-reddit-lawsuit/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Nonstop to schadenfreude: Suburban Express’ u-turn on reddit lawsuit | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=May 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Ars-19Jun2013">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/06/bus-co-that-threatened-redditor-with-lawsuit-tries-to-reopen-suits/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Bus company that threatened redditor with lawsuit tries to reopen suit| first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=June 19, 2013}}</ref>
*{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/non-stop-to-schadenfreude-suburban-express-u-turn-on-reddit-lawsuit/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Nonstop to schadenfreude: Suburban Express’ u-turn on reddit lawsuit | first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=May 2, 2013}}</ref>
Negative publicity resulted from speculation that Suburban Express had been intimidating students who spoke negatively about it online.<ref name="Ars-26Apr2013"/> The company filed ] requests with the university to identify the subreddit's users.<ref name="Ars-19Jun2013">{{cite news| url=http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/06/bus-co-that-threatened-redditor-with-lawsuit-tries-to-reopen-suits/ | work=Ars Technica | title=Bus company that threatened redditor with lawsuit tries to reopen suit| first=Sean | last=Gallagher | date=June 19, 2013}}</ref>


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 13:02, 25 May 2014

Illini Shuttle, operated by Suburban Express, at Illinois Terminal in Champaign, Illinois.
Founded1983
Headquarters714 S Sixth Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Service areaIllinois, Indiana, Iowa
Service typeIntercity coach service
DestinationsSix universities served and Chicago suburbs
Chief executiveDennis Toeppen, President
Websitewww.suburbanexpress.com

Suburban Express is a bus service that provides transport services to students at six universities in the American Midwest, primarily to and from the Chicago area. Airport shuttles are run by its subsidiary, Illini Shuttle. The company contracts buses from other carriers, and is based in Champaign, Illinois.

In the 1980s, Suburban Express broke the monopoly that Greyhound had between Champaign and Chicago leading to a price war that cut student fares by more than half. Since 2000, it has filed at least 200 lawsuits over alleged violations of its terms of service, leading students to criticize the bus service online.

History

Greyhound Lines had a monopoly on scheduled bus services between the Champaign and Chicago areas of Illinois, when in 1983 its bus drivers went on strike. Suburban Express began as Western Trails Transportation in November 1983 as an alternative during the local colleges' Thanksgiving break. Company founder Dennis Toeppen, then a 19-year-old student at University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (UIUC), chartered 6 buses, sold tickets through a local travel agent, spent $600 on advertising, and undercut Greyhound's fares by $4 to $8. The Thanksgiving 1983 service carried nearly 300 students. In January 1984 the company announced it would continue to offer weekly transportation services though the strike at Greyhound had ended.

UIUC's travel center received a commission from Greyhound, and initially refused to sell competing tickets, out of fear of losing their agreement with Greyhound. The travel center also briefly offered its own competing charter service. In 1984, a price war began between Suburban Express and Greyhound that resulted in prices being cut prices by more than fifty percent. Greyhound filed two complaints against Suburban Express with the Illinois Commerce Commission. In February 1985, the company, by then called Suburban Express, charged Greyhound with predatory pricing, claiming their ticket prices were was below its costs and designed to drive competitors out of business. The Justice Department did not investigate.

Suburban Express began servicing Eastern Illinois University in 1985, and Illinois State University in 1989. The company's Illini Shuttle, began service connecting UIUC to Chicago's Midway and O'Hare airports in October 2004. Service to the University of Iowa began during the 2006–2007 academic year.

Services

As of 2013 Suburban Express serves six universities: UIUC, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Purdue University, University of Iowa and Indiana University. Each of the six campuses has weekend service to several Chicago locations, and the Illini Shuttle runs daily from Champaign to O'Hare International Airport and the suburbs. It hires non-smoking drivers and has free Wi-Fi on most buses. In 2012 it carried around 100,000 passengers or about 75 buses a day.

Terms of service

Ars Technica reported in early 2013 that Suburban Express had a negative online reputation due to its business practices, such as fining, banning or filing a small claims dispute when customers allegedly violate its terms of service. At the time, Suburban Express said these students were breaking the company's Terms of Service, which said students would be fined $100 for using an "invalid, altered or duplicate ticket" and $500 for "disruptive behavior". In April 2013 fines were removed from its Terms of Service in response to customer complaints.

Suburban Express initiated 209 lawsuits from April 1994 to April 2013. Most were against students it alleged violated its terms of service, while four were against competitors. 126 lawsuits were filed in early 2013, 116 of which were initially withdrawn and dismissed with prejudice. Later, some dismissals were overturned and their cases were refiled. Many of the lawsuits were filed in Ford County, 30 miles from UIUC, which made students ineligible for the university's free legal aid for cases filed in Champaign County.

In April 2013, the company banned and sought a $570 penalty from a student whose allegations about a bus driver's racist comment were widely seen on Facebook and in a college newspaper. This led to a discussion among students on the UIUC subreddit. A dispute arose between Suburban Express and a Reddit moderator. The moderator accused the company of astroturfing. Suburban Express threatened him with a lawsuit and exposed his personal information on their website. Reddit users allegedly hacked the company website. Suburban Express filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the university to identify the subreddit's users, in what Ars Technica reports was an attempt to bully online critics, resulting in a Streisand effect.

References

  1. ^ Rozek, Dan (October 20, 1985). "Fare wars - Bus service run by student butts heads with Greyhound" (PDF). Daily Herald (Arlington Heights).
  2. Townsend, Ed (4 November 1983). "Strike against Greyhound forces customers to leave driving to somebody else". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  3. "Ray Phillips and the 1983 Strike Ray Phillips and the 1983 Strike". 31 December 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. Townsend, Ed (5 December 1983). "Tentative settlement in Greyhound strike". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  5. ^ Rubey, Peter (28 January 1984). "New cut-rate bus company to begin service next week" (PDF). Daily Illini. Retrieved 9 April 2014. Western Trails Transportation Co., a new bus service which operated during the Greyhound bus driver's strike, will begin regular cut-rate weekly service next Friday
  6. Taylor, Barbara (16 February 1985). "Greyhound pricing illegal, bus service official claims" (PDF). Daily Illini. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  7. "Suburban Express Terms of Service". Daily Illini. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014. You agree to direct all questions and concerns pertaining to credit card charges or credits to Suburban Express / Illini Shuttle IN WRITING at PO Box 4048, Lisle, IL 60532
  8. "Illini Shuttle - O'Hare & Midway Schedules". illinishuttle.com (Subject's website). Suburban Express. Retrieved 11 April 2014. Schedules...will begin operating October 12, 2004...October 27, 2004. We will begin accepting reservations and selling tickets on September 30, 2004. {{cite web}}: Check |archiveurl= value (help)
  9. suburbanexpress.com. Archive.org: Suburban Express (company website). $9.95 Introductory Fare Extended through February 16 {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |archive-url= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  10. "Frequent Service Between Champaign and O'Hare, Chicago Suburbs!", Illini Shuttle.
  11. ^ Ruff, Corinne (April 28, 2013). "Suburban Express lawsuits reach 125 this year; conversation continues on Reddit". Daily Illini.
  12. ^ Gallagher, Sean (April 26, 2013). "Express to Internet Hate: Bus company threatens redditor with lawsuit". Ars Technica.
  13. ^ Neil, Martha (May 3, 2013). "Cheap bus ticket included a trip to small-claims court for unwary students". ABA Journal. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  14. ^ Brumleve, Will (April 26, 2013). "Bus firm's lawsuits criticized". The News-Gazette.
  15. ^ Geiger, Kim (May 1, 2013). "Bus company's lawsuits anger students, parents". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  16. Suburban Express terms of service, dated April 29, 2013. Retrieved Jan 28, 2014.
  17. ^ Brumleve, Will (July 31, 2013). "Judge allows bus company to refile some claims against passengers". The News-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 11, 2013.
  18. Bus company promises to drop Ford lawsuits, The News-Gazette. Accessed November 9, 2013.
  19. Ruff, Corinne (April 28, 2013). "Suburban Express lawsuits reach 125 this year; conversation continues on Reddit". The Daily Illini. Champaign-Urbana. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  20. Gallagher, Sean (February 13, 2013). "Troll road: Bus company posts "dirt" on complaining passenger". Ars Technica.
  21. Gallagher, Sean (June 19, 2013). "Bus company that threatened redditor with lawsuit tries to reopen suit". Ars Technica.

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